Method of and apparatus for cleaning ingot pieces



Sept. 26, 1961 G. A. LYON 3,001,280

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING INGOT PIECES Filed Nov. 23, 1955 l? /9 5 2a 1 Y 7 wll :1 IIIJIIHIIInUm [27 V5 .77 [UP 62-01%:- 41 2597' Am United States Patent" E 3 001,280 METHOD OF AND AiPARATUS FOR CLEANING INGOT PIECES George Albert Lyon, 13881 W. Chicago Blvd., Detroit 28, Mich. Filed Nov. 23, 1955, Ser.,No. 548,708 Claims. (Cl. 29556) The present invention relates to improvements in preparing ingot pieces for subsequent working thereon as for example by flattening the same and then drawing the same into shell form.

, Steel ingots as they are produced by casting and soaking develop a scaly, pitted and otherwise imperfect skin or external surface. For some purposes, such as for drawing, it is highly desirable to have pure, clean metal free from surface impurities or imperfections which may otherwise be reflected in corresponding imperfections in the finished article such as a drawn shell.

.For certain purposes, such as for drawing steel shells, metal pieces free from surface tensions is desirable. Material as derived directly from the ingot is highly advantageous for the purpose. However, the objectionable surface scale, imperfections, and the like must be eliminated before the ingot pieces canbe successfully utilized for the purposes mentioned.

It is, accordingly, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved method of and apparatus for effectively treating and cleaning ingot-pieces preparatory to further working of the pieces Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of removing scale and other impurities and imperfections from the surface of ingot pieces.

v A further object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus for not only applying internal scale removing pressure to ingot pieces but alsosuperficial scale and impurity and imperfection removing scrubbing action.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of preparing and cleaning ingot pieces by combination of internal and external actions thereon.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in whichr FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an ingot piece substantially as it appears after severance from the ingot;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional elevational view showing more or less schematically apparatus for practicing the method of the present invention; I

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view taken substantially along the line Ill-4H of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of a flattened disk blank prepared from a treated and cleaned ingot piece.

An ingot piece 5 (FIG. 1) is derived by severing it from a cast ingot that may be of the usualelongated tapered form, several feet in length and a foot or more in diameter, and generally circular inits longitudinal periphery although it may be fluted. The length of the ingot piece 5 is predetermined in relation to diameter to afford the desired mass of material for the article ultimately to be made therefrom. An example of such an article is a drawn steel shell of substantial size. To this end, the ingot piece Sis transformed into a flattened blank B (FIG. 4) of several times the original diameter of the ingot piece and only fractionally as thick. For large size shells such as bomb head shells forordnance purposes or shells for industrial purposes such as tanks the blank B may have to be between one and two inches thick and from three to five feet in diameter.

For drawing purposes, the blank B must be as nearly iCC as practicable free from flaws and impurities not only i internally but also on the surface. Accordingly, the in-' got piece 5 is severed from a portion of the ingot that is free from piping or blow holes or end pits, with the opposite ends of the piece clean as a result of end crop? ping or cleaning off or severance of the ingot and thenseverance of the piece from the remainder of the ingot. f

It is also highly important, of course, to .have the longitudinal side or peripheral surfaces of the ingot free and cleaned of impurities such as scale, and imperfections such as pits or cracks; Moreover, it is desirable to elim-' action such as may be accomplished by wire brushing.

Apparatus-for. carrying out the method is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 and includes axial compression means comprising a lower supporting or anvil member 7 and an upper compression member 8. The lower anvil member. 7 is supported for free rotation about a vertical axis by a base member 9 having means such as a journal bore l0 and thrust bearings 11 by which the member 7 is. mounted to project upwardly above a table 12 also supported by the base 9.

For coaxial cooperation with the rotary supporting member 7, the compression member 8 is rotatably supported by a ram structure 13 capable of driving the member 8 toward the member 7 with sufiicient compression thrust force to partially compress the ingot piece 5 to a shorter length and effect a lateral or radial bulging of the longitudinal peripheral wall surface of the ingot piece substantially as shown in FIG. 2, as visualized on comparison of the dash outline position of the ingot piece and the full line condition thereof, shown in FIG. 2.

In addition to axial compression of the ingot piece 5, the pressure member 8 also subjects the piece to a component of uniform radial pressure in the smaller diameter end portion thereof so as to substantially equalize the opposite end portions of the compressed ingot piece;

This is accomplished by the provision on the thrust or pressure end'of the member 8 of a shallow taper pref erably substantially fr'usto-conical thrust tip 14 which on pressing into the opposing end of the ingot piece 5 displaces a limited amount of the material of the ingot piece radially outwardly coincident with the axial compression of the piece.

As a result of the axial compression to which the ingot piece 5 is subjected between the members 7 and 8, the longitudinal periphery of the piece is laterally or radially bulged and thereby expanded so that scale and impurities tend to crack oif, and the flutes and cracks or pits are, generally reduced to at least a depth if not eliminated.

It is desirable, however, to have the longitudinal per-iphery of the ingot piece 5 substantially clean and scoured or worked off or down to clean, substantially pure and flawless metal. To this end, means are provided in association with the supporting and compression mem-- substantially shallower table 12 Eachofthe brushes 15 comprises a body 19 a'i'd'a peripheral annular mass of wirebristleslil. The" brushes 15 may be up to six feet in diameter and of a bristle thickness suficient to make full substantially uni f cohta'ct over the entire-Jenna of" the'compressed, later 31 bulged ihgot piece 5. p 7 v a e 'prereten'ce; the brushes 151 are mounted on vertical par 'allel' to the axis of the" supporting. and" com-1 on members? and 8; and witli the'journal members" cip'r'oc'ably guided forniovementbetween clearance positions relative to the/ingot or Work piece 5'. To thisend, the journal members 13 extend through respective elongated slots 21' in the table 12 radially dis d relative to" theax'isof'the" member 7, and'vvith' respeetivefiange"portions 22 o'ithejournalmembers re cip'ro'cablyg'uided parallel to the axes of the respective slots 21 by guide rails or gibs 23 on the table.

Ir" reciprocating the brush joufnals 18 and thereby th Brushes 15' relative to the Work, means: are provided shell as respective'fluid operators 24 which may be 'h'y-' (Ira lic or pneumatically actuatedby' manual drfla'utd riiaticc'oiitrolmeansl Pistonjrods'25 from thefiuid'o'pe'r a'to'rs'are connected to the brush mechanism as for ex ple-ts prime mmem such as respective electric motors 2'7 forrotatably" driving themes spindles Zll'and there-* by the brushesf15': Thus; in operation, the'brushe's15' maybe rotated atsuitable speed continuously by the resfiective motors 27 and the brush reciprocation actuators: 2*4will operate to move thebru'shes'frorn the backed-E df'clea'iancerelation tojthe' w'orkinto' vorkingrelation thereto wherein the bulged periphery of the workpiece is" deter upon by the brush bristles" 2%? to" abrade ana' See's; the 's'ameclean and siibstantiallyflaw free. Pref-j ei 'ablfthe arrm'g'ement'i's such' that Working pressured the brushes is applied from diametrically opposite sides a g'ai inst the workpiece and such pressure is controllable tifib'e asgreat or as light" or" progressively increasin'g'dur the brushing: opera'tioii, as is" suitable" for the were piecebein gicleanecl, controlled through thefluid o'per stars 24: I p V p I For speed in operation" a nd'efiiciehcy' in th'e'clefa'niiigj e work piece periphery, the bulged ingot pi ce is eferably rotated cb'nnter the rotja'tioh of the brushes. K'sshovm by the arrb'Wsiin FIGURE 3, for example; the brushes ma be rotated clockwise and the was: piece also rotated clockwis'e'so thattheperipheral direction of movement at contact of the brush bristies Zh'With" the vifork'piece' is in opposite directions Fdr rotating the wo'rk piece 5, thecbmpression thembe 8is' preferably rotated asfby'rneans of a primeiaover an electric motor z'smmnea on therein? struc- 7 Brand connected by a flexible driving means such: as "belt or chain 29"with the member fi es byme'ans of a pulleyorsprockefwheel 3t? driven by'them otoh and apulley or' sprocket-wheel 31 carried by the rotary bar's.

To assure positive turning of the'in'got piece" 5', i'n'te'i lock means are preferably provided between the compressionmember 8 and the work'piece'as for example by providingthe'compression thrii'st tfa'ce 14 with keying lugs 32 which' press corresponding keying slots" 33; into the opposing sur face' of theingot piece 5 as an incident to'f compression ofthe 'ingotpiece; Thus, thei'ngot piece'S is placed coaxially between the me't'nbeis' 7 and 3' While the member 8 is backed" away to a sutlicient clearance distance and the-brushes are backed off toa clear auce spacing, and then the ram 13 drives the compres si'on member 8 against theingot piece to'c'omp'reas the same and eifec't an=interlocktherewith so that thei'ngot piece can be positively rotated relative to thebrushes ESQ Thenwhen the'brushes are brought into brushing'engage: ment with the bulged periphery of the ingot piece 5, uni form, thorough cleaning of the bulged's'urface of the in-" got piece is accomplished.

After the ingot'piece 5 has been thoroughly ciea'nedr it may be appropriately heated to' a good plasticizing' teiip'eraturesuchas from 2000 F. to 2200" F. inanna'n:- ner to avoid oxidation or scaling, and then it is further compressed axially from the dash outline position of FIG. 4 into the flattenedblank B which is then ready to be further processed -a-s-for eiiainple by dishing and cupping and then draWing'the-same into'shell form.

It will be understood that modifications-and variations may be effected without'dep'arting from the scope of the novel concepts ot the present inventiom I claim as my"invention:

1. In a method of descaling and/or removing surface impurities from an ingot piece'ha' ihg lohg'itu'dinal side walls; compressing the' piece" axially] between ressure members to shorten the piece and displace mater j thereof laterally for bulging the longitudinal side wall's and thus cracking to initiate displacement of surface impuritiesftherefro'm, asanincident'to the compression: locking the piece to one 0 2' the" members; while lockedf' and held between'the members rotating the pieceby said one member; and while rotating thep'iece'subjecting the longitudinal side walls thereo'i'to progressively increasing abrading pressure of a' rotating wire'bru'sh for cleaning" th'e' lo'ngitudinal side walls of any remainingimpurit'ies.

2; Ina" method of descaling and/orremoving surface impurities'froni an ingot piece having' longitudinal side walls, compressing. the" piece axially between ressure; members to shorten the piece and displace" material thereof laterally'for bulging the longitudinal side walls and thus cracking to initiate displacemen'tof surface purities therefrom; as an incident to the" compression locking the piece to one of the members; whilelockedand held between; the" members rotating the piece by said one member,' and while'rbta'ting' thepiec'e' subje-citing"the longitudinal sidewalls thereoff to the action of rotating abrading' mea'nsfor"subetantially cleaning theloh'g'itudin'al side wallsof any remaining impurities.

3'. Inappara'tus for treating ingot pieces, means rm supporting. an irig'o't' piece az iially; means for applying.- compression axially to the" ingot" piece toward saidsil'p porting" means; one of said-means having means for keg irig the sarne'tdthe engaged face of 'the ingot piece 'ihcident to applying a'iiialcompression to" the piece;- means for rotating said one means to' thereby rotate the ingotpiece; and apaifofwire brushes disposed on ax'es pa llelto the axis of the rotating piece and movable into abradingl engagement with the" longitudinal wall of the piece train diametrically opposite sides for cleaning the piece.

4. Apparatus fortr'eating cast" ingot pieces that have been out from an ingot preparatory'm' flattening r'e' disks to be drawn into shell form, supporting. stril'ct'ure, thrusfbea'ring niean s' c a'rried bysaid supporting st-riic't'uie, an anvil rotatably supported by said thrust'bear in'g means and having an upwardly facing. supporting surface, a ram structure movable vertically'to'war'd' and awa from said anvil and havinga dowflwardly'fa'cing rotary compression member cooperatively opposing said anvil surface to apply axial compression to an-ingot piece mounted on said anvil siiriaceaiidenga ged by thecompression member during dowhward"movementofthe ram structure tosqueez'e the ingotpiec'e" axially and redn'ce its length and bulgeollt the longitudinal wall of the in'gotpicc'efw cracking oft scale and impurities, means carried by the ram structure'to" rotate said compression member, keying means on the compression member and arranged to be pressed into the face of the ingot piece engaged by the compression member" during compression of the ingot" piece; and means carried by'the"supportingstructureand movableffroin a'backed oif position into engagement with the bulged perimeter'of'theingot piecea-fter compression and while the ingot piece is rotated byrotation of the compression member by said means for rotating the same and by coincident rotation of the anvil through engage ment thereof by the ingot piece for further cleaning or the bulged perimeter surface of the ingot' piece.

5. Apparatus for treating cast ingot pieces that have been cut from a tapered ingot preparatory to flattening into disks to be drawn into shell form, and such pieces tapering from a smaller diameter end portion to a larger diameter end portion in each instance, supporting structure, thrust bearing means carried by said supporting structure, an anvil rotatably supported by said thrust bearing means and having an upwardly facing supporting surface, a ram structure movable vertically toward and away from said anvil and having a downwardly facing rotary compression member cooperatively opposing said anvil surface to apply axial compression to an ingot piece mounted with its larger diameter end portion at its lower end and disposed on said anvil surface and with its smaller diameter end portion extending upwardly and engaged by the compression member during downward movement of the ram structure to squeeze the ingot piece axially and reduce its length and bulge out the longitudinal wall of the ingot piece for cracking olf scale and impurities, means carried by the ram structure to rotate said compression member, keying means on the compression member and arranged to be pressed into the face of the ingot piece engaged by the compression member during compression of the ingot piece, and means carried by the supporting structure and movable from a backed off position into engagement with the bulged perimeter or the ingot piece after compression and while the ingot piece is rotated by rotation of the compression member by said means for rotating the same and by coincident rotation of the anvil through engagement thereof by the ingot piece for further'cleaning or the bulged perimeter surface of the ingot piece, said compression member having a substantially frusto-conical thrust tip which engages the opposing axial race of the ingot piece and displaces a limited amount of the material of the ingot piece radially outwardly coincident with axial compression of the piece in order to substantially equalize said smaller diameter upper end portion of the ingotpiece with said larger diameter lower end portion of the piece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,281 Paque Nov. 8, 1921 1,701,736 Timken Feb. 12, 1929 1,706,427 Wachsmuth Mar. 26, 1929 1,820,735 Fraser Aug. 25, 1931 1,889,823 Cole Dec. 6, 1932 1,889,838 Norman Dec. 6, 1932 2,614,317 Deussen Oct. 21, 1952 2,644,277 Chatten July 7, 1953 2,698,951 Van Haandel Jan. 11, 1955 

